The image of Rita Hayworth is burned into the collective memory of Hollywood as the ultimate "Love Goddess." You probably know the one—tossing her hair back in Gilda, looking like a dream that was too good to be true. But honestly, the reality of her private life was a lot more complicated, and frankly, a bit of a tragedy. People always ask, who was Rita Hayworth married to, usually expecting a list of glamorous leading men. While there were geniuses and princes on that list, the truth is that Rita spent her life looking for a kind of simple, quiet love that she almost never actually found.
She was married five times. Each one ended in divorce.
It's sorta heartbreaking when you look at the details. Most of the men she married were either obsessed with the "image" of Rita Hayworth or they were trying to control her career. She famously said, "Men fell in love with Gilda, but they woke up with me." That basically sums up her entire romantic history. She was a shy, quiet woman named Margarita Cansino who just wanted a home, but she was stuck being the world's biggest sex symbol.
The Man Who Invented "Rita Hayworth"
Her first marriage was to Edward Judson in 1937. If you’re looking for a romantic elopement story, this isn't it. Rita was only 18 years old. Judson was 40. He was a car salesman and a promoter who basically saw her as a business investment.
He’s the one who forced her to change. He told her she looked "too Spanish" for Hollywood. He made her undergo painful electrolysis to move her hairline back and dyed her raven hair that famous shade of red. He even pushed her to change her name from Margarita Cansino to Rita Hayworth.
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By the time they divorced in 1942, she realized he had spent all her money. She later said he helped her career but helped himself to her paycheck. It was a cold start to a lifelong search for someone who actually cared about her, not just the starlet.
The Genius and the Prince
If the first marriage was about business, the next two were about the spotlight. In 1943, she married Orson Welles. He was the "Boy Wonder" of Hollywood, the man behind Citizen Kane. On paper, they were the ultimate power couple.
They had a daughter, Rebecca. But Orson was a workaholic and, well, a bit of a philanderer. He didn't want to be tied down to a domestic life, while Rita craved it. They made The Lady from Shanghai together—he famously made her cut and bleach her hair blonde for it—but by the time the movie was finished, so was the marriage. They divorced in 1948, though she always spoke of him with a certain level of respect.
Then came the one that sounded like a fairy tale but felt more like a cage.
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In 1949, she married Prince Aly Khan. He was the son of the Aga Khan III, the leader of the Ismaili Muslims. This made Rita a literal princess. It was a massive international scandal because they had an affair while she was still technically married to Orson.
They had a daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan. But the lifestyle was a nightmare for her. Aly Khan was a legendary playboy who loved horse racing and other women. Rita hated the stuffy royal protocols and the constant travel. She eventually walked away, choosing to raise her daughter in America as a "normal" girl rather than a sheltered royal.
The Final Years of Turmoil
You’d think after a prince and a genius, she’d find some peace. Nope. Her next two marriages were arguably the worst of the bunch.
- Dick Haymes (1953–1955): A singer who was basically using her to avoid being deported to Argentina. He had massive debts and a fading career. The relationship was reportedly abusive; he once hit her in public at a nightclub. She walked out and never looked back.
- James Hill (1958–1961): A movie producer. This was her last attempt at marriage. Hill wanted her to keep working and making movies, but Rita was exhausted. She wanted to retire. He reportedly treated her poorly in front of friends, and they split after three years.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Rita was this "man-eater" who churned through husbands because she was difficult. It was actually the opposite. Most accounts from people who knew her, like her frequent co-star Glenn Ford (with whom she had a secret, decades-long on-and-off romance), describe her as incredibly vulnerable.
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She wasn't looking for a trophy; she was looking for a protector. Unfortunately, she kept picking men who wanted to own the "Love Goddess" rather than love the woman.
A Quick Summary of Her Marriages
| Husband | Years Married | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Judson | 1937–1942 | The manager who transformed her image. |
| Orson Welles | 1943–1948 | The legendary director; father of Rebecca. |
| Prince Aly Khan | 1949–1953 | Made her a princess; father of Yasmin. |
| Dick Haymes | 1953–1955 | A singer with legal and financial troubles. |
| James Hill | 1958–1961 | A producer who wouldn't let her retire. |
Moving Beyond the Gilda Image
If you want to understand Rita Hayworth, don't just look at the marriages. Look at what she did afterward. She spent her final years being cared for by her daughter, Princess Yasmin, as she struggled with Alzheimer’s disease. In a way, it was the only time she finally had the quiet, dedicated family bond she’d been searching for her whole life.
To truly appreciate her legacy, you should:
- Watch her films beyond Gilda: Check out Only Angels Have Wings or Cover Girl to see her range.
- Read "Glenn Ford: A Life" by Peter Ford: It gives a much more intimate look at the one man who actually seems to have loved her for who she was.
- Support Alzheimer's awareness: Her daughter Yasmin became a huge advocate for the cause, turning her mother's tragedy into something that helps others.
Rita's story isn't just about a list of husbands. It's about a woman who was forced to be a fantasy and spent her life trying to find something real.